Latest News Archive November 2011

Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands officials have concluded their 10th Annual Senior Officials Meeting in Mount Hagen, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea last week. The meetings were held on the 24-25 November 2011.

Demands Urgency for climate agreement: AOSIS Press Release

The Minister for Foreign Affairs today addressed a side event session organized by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the African Union at the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, South Korea.

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Peter Shanel Agovaka, instructing him to probe into the controversial PNG Chancery project.

Press Release - Busan, Republic of Korea, 28th November 2011

Permanent Secretary for Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs, Ethel Sigimanu, says violence against women and girls is a concern on every continent and in every culture.

The Buala Communiqué of the 4th Premier's Conference has passed through parliament's committee of the whole house after one and a half days of debate.

Solomon Islands environmental campaigner, Lawrence Makili, says an illegal shipment of at least 50 dolphins has been smuggled out of the country bound for China.

The opening match of the Oceania Cup between Niue and Solomon Islands, under the searing Port Moresby sun, was a very close affair despite Niue having a clear weight advantage over their opponents.

28 November 2011 - MANILA, PHILIPPINES

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo says the NCRA government pledges its support to revive the coconut industry.

Trial into the election petition case against West Honiara MP, Namson Tran has been postponed to a possible date next year.

The men of the Australian High Commission have had a hairy month. Led by High Commissioner Matt Anderson, they have been growing moustaches in support of 'MOVEMBER'.

Pacific Islanders have long depended on the marine environment as a vital part of their social and economic development.

PFF, Rarotonga, COOK ISLANDS -- Another defamation suit filed against a PNG media organisation has raised questions on why public complaints are not being taken up with the national media complaints committee, says regional media freedom Monitoring network, the Pacific Freedom Forum, PFF.

The much anticipated motion of no confidence on Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has been withdrawn by the Opposition group.

A Principal Magistrate has dismissed charges of indecent assault against former South Pacific Oil Chairman, Joses Tuhanuku.

MANILA, 23 November 2011 - The World Health Organization congratulates Australia for becoming the first country to pass legislation requiring all tobacco products to be sold in plain packaging.

A local rugby club, Avaiki Rugby Club, has recently returned from Australia having competed in a club/country international sevens tournament - the Noosa International 7s on the 12th-13th November 2011.

Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has adjourned Parliament until Friday saying his newly appointed Cabinet members needs time to settle into their Ministries.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has recently trained one of its staff on sweet potato virus diagnostics and elimination methods at the Queensland-based Gatton Research Station in the Australian Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI).

It has been confirmed by the National Parliament that the no confidence motion against Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo will be tabled in Parliament on Friday.

The European Union, EU, will give more than SBD$4.8 million dollars to six non state actor groups to further their programmes.

The Acting Police Commissioner, Walter Kola, has announced a stronger security operation for the capital as Parliament reconvenes today morning.

What would you do if you saw a bulldozer move across your front yard and start smashing your home and garden to bits? Then the bulldozer driver told you that a big company now owned your land and could do what they wanted with it for the next 99 years.

As the motion of no confidence looms, a majority of Solomon Islanders living in the provinces say they support the NCRA led government.

Police have launched an investigation and are speaking to residents of the Tasahe 'B' community near White River after the discovery of a dead body at an abandoned house yesterday afternoon.

Port Moresby-based US Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Teddy Taylor, has said Solomon Islands are now qualified to be considered for funding support under the Millennium Challenge Account, MCA.

The Lilo led government has sworn in Member of Parliament for Small Malaita, Rick Hou, as the new Finance Minister. He was sworn in yesterday afternoon.

Newly elected Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has welcomed the planned motion of no confidence saying that it is the opposition groups constitutional right.

Work on a multi-million dollar water supply project for Honiara and Auki is expected to start early next year.

A political watchdog group in Solomon Islands is urging Taiwan to stop giving what it calls loose cash to members of parliament as it is contributing to instability.

Maritime regulators, trainers and stakeholders from the Pacific region took part in a seminar to familiarise themselves with the requirements of the Manila Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and Code.

Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Dr Derek Sikua, has called for calm amongst the public following the angry protests in Honiara over the outcome of the Prime Minister's election on Wednesday.

The National Parliament will reconvene next Wednesday, following adjournment yesterday.

Police have maintained order in Honiara after the election of Gizo/Kolombangara MP Gordon Darcy Lilo as Prime Minister.

Ni-Vanuatu food entrepreneur Votausi Mackenzie-Reur has, quite literally, put her money where her mouth is.

Hon. Gordon Lilo Darcy was confirmed to have been sworn in yesterday as the country's new Prime Minister by the Solomon Islands Governor General, Sir Frank Kabui.

Four Solomon Islanders have been awarded the prestigious Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) scholarship to undertake postgraduate study in Australia next year.

Local beauty queen Miss Simaema Mili Marie Nielson has been selected to represent Solomon Islands at this year' s Miss South Pacific Beauty Pageant in Apia, Samoa from December 4 -11.

Solomon Islands has a new Prime Minister.

Political watchdog, Transparency Solomon Islands says Taiwan should seize providing what it calls loose cash to members of parliament.

The Solomon Islands Acting Police Commissioner, Mr. Walter Kola says police will not underestimate reports of threats to today's Prime Minister's elections.

Hon. Sogavare, a candidate for today's Prime Minister Election, has dismissed claims that Australia's interests and RAMSI's work in Solomon Islands will be undermined if he comes to power.

The Solomon Islands office of the National Parliament have confirmed that today's Prime Ministerial election will be at 9.30am local time.

Hon. Gordon Lilo Darcy and Hon. Milner Tozaka now seem to be the top choice of both the Opposition and the Solomon Islands care taker government, the National Coalition for Reform and Advancement.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), in collaboration with its partners, organised two side events during the second Asia Pacific Forestry Week (APFW) held in Beijing.

Women in the Solomon Islands need more opportunities to share their experiences of the country's ethnic tension a decade ago.

A regional workshop involving representatives from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu began yesterday in Fiji where discussions will centre on improving growth opportunities for women business owners.

The Solomon Islands Minister for Home Affairs, Hon. Maelanga has again gazetted a liqour and alcohol ban effective today to 8am Sunday, 20th of November.

The Malaita Maasina Forum has dismissed a report that it supports the nomination of Gordon Darcy Lilo as one of the candidates for for Prime Minister.

The non-communicable disease, diabetes remains the third top killer in Solomon Islands.

A pilot initiative to create awareness amongst youth and communities to appreciate the benefits of forests was recently piloted in the Fiji with support from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

A one mile race will be staged in Gizo next month to coincide with the Western Province Second Appointed Day.

Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) is very concerned that Solomon Islands may lose donors' support as almost 30 percent of billions of dollars spent annually for international development Projects were being diverted by corruption.

Six candidates have been nominated for the post of Prime Minister.

Solomon Islands' Prime Minister, Danny Philip, has resigned ahead of a vote of no confidence.

The Solomon Islands Police has stepped up its security in Honiara and at parliament house as it take precautionary measures for todays Motion of No Confidence.

The Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the country's cattle farmers weren't consulted by the government over the agreement to export livestock to Solomon Islands.

The Solomon Islands Truth and Reconciliation Commission is confident it has sufficient information to conclude what caused the country's ethnic tensions a decade ago.

The Solomon Islands former Finance Minister, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo has described his dismissal by the Prime Minister as unfair.

Collecting and managing information is the core task for the majority of staff employed in Pacific Island fishery government agencies.

Honiara remains calm this morning as everyone braces to see the turn out of the Motion of No-Confidence against Hon. Danny Philip, the current Solomon Islands Prime Minister.

Pacific Island government leaders and ministers as well as their metropolitan counterparts attending the 7th Conference of the Pacific Community in New Caledonia this week recognised the importance of ensuring that food and water security can be maintained in the face of climate change now and in coming decades.

More political upheaval occurred yesterday as the Solomon Islands Government and the Opposition prepare for the Motion of No Confidence to be debated today.

The number of Solomon Islanders taking up FIFA and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) responsibilities in the region continues to rise as Victor Waiia becomes the latest to join an increasing line-up of international appointees.

A National Tsunami Exercise using a long-distance tsunami scenario is being carried out in the Solomon Islands today.

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey together with the Honiara City Council is organizing a workshop on the issues and challenges of urbanization in Honiara.

The Solomon Islands Rugby Union Federation (SIRUF) will this weekend conduct a Level 1 Refereeing workshop in Honiara for interested new rugby officials.

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Danny Philip has revealed that he did not officially revoke the membership of seven backbenchers in the National Coalition for Rural Advancement government.

Monday 7 November 2011, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Noumea, New Caledonia

The Premier of Temotu Province, Fr. Charles Brown Beu is calling on Temotu's three Parliamentarians to continue their support towards the current Solomon Islands government.

A United States aircraft that went missing 22 years ago in the Solomon Islands has been found beneath the waters of Santa Ana, Makira/Ulawa.

While undertaking a hydrographic survey in Tulaghi Harbour, Solomon Islands, the crew of HMNZS RESOLUTION took time to connect with the past and remember the crew of WWII Corvette HMNZS MOA.

A proud moment was made yesterday when four hundred cattles from neighbouring Republic of Vanuatu were off loaded onto the Solomon Islands shores.

Solomon Islands most famous panpipe band, Narasirato is working on releasing a new album come March 2012.

The High Court will deliver its judgement this week following the petition case against the Solomon Islands Member of Parliament for West Are'are, Hon. John Maneniaru.

Vanuatu has made its first ever export of live cattle to Solomon Islands last week.

Gold Ridge Mining Ltd sponsorship has been a crucial factor in the Solomon Islands Rugby Sevens Squad recent participation in the Oceania Sevens Championship in Samoa.

There has to be something special about the Marovo Lagoon in the Solomon Islands for it to be nominated as one of the seven natural wonders of Oceania.

The Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon. Danny Philip and his government are confident of defeating the proposed Motion of No-Confidence this Friday in Parliament.

Sunday 6 November 2011, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Noumea, New Caledonia

[Yaren, Nauru, 6th November 2011] Nauru is taking steady action towards improving development effectiveness on the small island nation.

Chiefs are working closely with the police to successfully resolve a violent dispute that led to a large fight between two groups of men in Munda located in the Western Province of Solomon Islands.

The subject of the discretionary funds often raises questions to the Solomon Islands citizens, especially with regards to how it had been and should be administered.

Working in a rundown Solomon Islands hospital was a heartbreaking but challenging experience for two Warrnambool medical students.

A former Police Commissioner of Solomon Islands, Mr. Frank Short has stated that there are some worrying signs for the future of Solomon Islands.

A headteacher in Feniton Church of England Primary School is hoping to strengthen a village's global links during a visit to to the Solomon Islands this week.

Finance and Treasury Minister, Hon Gordon Darcy Lilo, has announced that the Solomon Islands Government has reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on a reform program that can be supported by a precautionary Standby Credit Facility (SCF) once the current SCF arrangement expires this December.

More Pacific Islanders now work at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the region's oldest and largest development agency than in previous years.

Despite impressive human development rankings in some of the Pacific Island countries, the region like Solomon Islands face a future of rising sea-levels, reduced fresh water sources, and diminishing fish stocks.

Providing smaller Pacific Island nations, like Solomon Islands with the means to develop football - both on and off the pitch - to a desired standard has been one of the over-riding challenges for OFC for many years.

Former Guadalcanal Premier Stephen Panga says the national government to date has done very little to address the demands of the people of Guadalcanal relating to reconciliation, lost properties and land issues.

The Opposition Leader on Tuesday filed an official complaint with the police against Prime Minister Philip for his gross abuse of the 2012 Prime Minister's discretionary fund.

Acting Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Mathew Wale, says any change of government would not cause any "major disruption to next year's national budget."

The SPC Regional Rights Resource Team (SPC/RRRT) in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat(PIFS) will this week conduct the 2011 'Regional Human Rights Training Workshop for Lawyers and Magistrates'.

The Solomon Islands Finance Minister, Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo has applauded the many members of the business community, salary and wage earners who have been complying with the countries tax and customs duty laws.

On 27 October, Solomon Islands Forestry Minister and Member of Parliament for East Guadalcanal, Bradley Tovosia, and the Australian High Commissioner Matt Anderson launched the Ovana Community Rural Support Supply Project.

Solomon Islands Women in Business Association (SIWIBA) yesterday launched their new webpage to link women running all kinds of businesses with new and potential customers .

The Government of Solomon Islands has been encouraged to set up separate scholarship funds for people with special needs.